This article takes an in-depth look at picture framing wire - the different types, thicknesses, and other important things to know when preparing to hang your own artwork!

SUMMARY

WIRE TYPES	BREAKING STRENGTH	ATTACHING WIRE	ORDERING WIRE
Most picture hanging wire is made from steel - either stainless or galvanized, and twisted or braided.	Picture hanging wire may be graded based on the maximum weight of the picture, or on the breaking weight, which is 3-4 times more.	The wire should be attached 1/4 to 1/3 of the way down the frame ,and be given enough slack to hold securely on the wall hook.	At KeenART Media, we sell six thicknesses of vinyl-coated stainless steel picture hanging wire spools.

Small Frames
Most small picture frames (4x6" to about 11x14") will come with a sawtooth hook at the back, or just a couple of hooks fastened to the frame's backing. In most cases, this is perfectly acceptable for a frame this size. Sawtooth hooks are easy to use - you simply set the zigzag edge onto the nail or screw protruding from the wall.

Hooks attached to the back of the frame are a little trickier. It can be very difficult to make the hook stick out enough to slide it onto the nail, since you are unable to leave your hand back there to push it out. the frame has two hooks (which equals twice the difficulty), it may be best to string a piece of wire between them.

Large, Heavy Frames
French cleats work well for very wide (panoramic) images, very heavy frames, or frames with an uneven weight distribution. French cleats are long bars of metal or wood which are cut to fit the width of your artwork. One cleat is fastened along the top frame edge (at the back), while the other is attached to the wall. The artwork cleat sits in the wall cleat, so the piece is supported all the way across.

Installing french cleats is a larger investment, since they require a number of screws - and usually anchors - across the wall, as well as numerous holes drilled into the picture frame. For mid-weight and length frames, wire may work, with two screws or nails inserted at intervals across the wall, instead of only one in the center.

Professional Artwork or Galleries
Cable systems are often used in professional galleries or private homes where an entire room is lined with art. The artwork hangs from thin cables that connect to a track affixed to the ceiling. Cable hanging systems require even more work than french cleats, but are worth it for extensive collections.

All Other Artwork
If your artwork doesn't fit any of the above categories - if it's of medium size and weight or, more specifically, under 100 lbs - you'll want to use picture hanging wire. Picture wire is relatively easy to attach, and easy to hang on the wall. It is also quite inexpensive. Read on for more information on picture hanging wire!


For more information on the different hanging systems, see our Hanging and Displaying Art article.

Metal French cleats

Cable hanging system

Material

• Galvanized steel wire has had a zinc coating applied to it to prevent it from rusting. This is usually done using a hot-dip galvanization method wherein the steel is submerged in molten zinc.

• Stainless steel wire is in fact a steel alloy, made from a mixture of steel and at least 10% chromium, which prevents corrosion and rust, and keeps the steel from staining other items when in contact with water.

• Twisted wire - generally stainless steel - is very strong, but less flexible. It is made by twisting many thin strands together with mechanical tension.

• Braided wire - usually galvanized - is more flexible. The size of the individual strands never changes, but more strands may be used for a thicker wire

Coated

Uncoated

Stainless steel, coated wire

It is generally recommended that you select a picture hanging wire with a breaking strength about three times the weight of your frame to account for the years of constant .

PICTURE WIRE #	COATED WIRE FRAME WEIGHT	COATED WIRE BREAKING WEIGHT	BRAIDED WIRE FRAME WEIGHT	BRAIDED WIRE BREAKING WEIGHT
No. 2	15 lbs	40 lbs	12 lbs	50 lbs
No. 3	20 lbs	68 lbs	16 lbs	68 lbs
No. 4	25 lbs	75 lbs	20 lbs	85 lbs
No. 5	43 lbs	105 lbs	24 lbs	98 lbs
No. 6	60 lbs	150 lbs	28 lbs	115 lbs
No. 8	100 lbs	300 lbs	36 lbs	145 lbs

To ensure your artwork hangs correctly, there are a few basic rules to which you should adhere when attaching the wire to the hanging hardware.

• Attach the hanging hardware so the wire sits 1/4 to 1/3 of the way down from the top of the artwork. For larger pieces, closer to 1/4 is best, while smaller pieces can be closer to 1/3.

• Give the wire a bit of slack, so it form a triangular peak between the two sides. A few inches below the top of the piece is best, or about half way between the hanging hardware and the top.

• Don't cut the wire away once it's been tied around the hanger. Wrap the excess (short end) around the longer end until it is used up. This will prevent the wire from slipping over time.

• When tying the wire around the hanger, the slipknot method is best, though double- or triple-wrapping the wire will work as well. For detailed instructions on tying your wire, see our How to Tie Wire article.

Leave some slack in the wire

You can order complete spools (125 to 1500 ft depending on the grade) of Super Softstrand wire from our online art supply store.

If you're ordering a Giclée canvas print or a custom picture frame, you can rest assured that this high quality wire will be used on all your orders, either attached in-house, or shipped to you for your own assembly.

If you have questions about any of our services or products, don't hesitate to contact us. Our knowledgeable staff is always happy to assist with answers, advice, or suggestions.

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